DHS awards $4.2M contract for USCIS administrative support to Alutiq Career Ventures LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,212,517 ($4.2M)

Contractor: Alutiiq Career Ventures LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2023-03-01

End Date: 2027-02-28

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: USCIS HUMAN CAPITAL AND TRAINING (HCT) ADMINISTRATIVE & PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: CAMP SPRINGS, HOWARD County, MARYLAND, 20588

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $4.2 million to ALUTIIQ CAREER VENTURES LLC for work described as: USCIS HUMAN CAPITAL AND TRAINING (HCT) ADMINISTRATIVE & PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for essential administrative and program support services to USCIS's Human Capital and Training division. 2. The contract value of $4.2 million over a 4-year period suggests a moderate investment in operational efficiency. 3. The 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' designation raises questions about the procurement process and potential missed opportunities for broader market engagement. 4. Fixed-price contract type aims to control costs, but the lack of competition may limit price negotiation benefits. 5. The services provided are critical for the internal functioning of USCIS's human capital development. 6. The contract's duration of 4 years indicates a need for sustained support in these administrative functions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $4.2 million for administrative and program support over four years appears to be within a reasonable range for the scope of services. However, without a competitive bidding process, it is difficult to benchmark the pricing against market rates or identify potential cost savings. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost certainty for the government, but the absence of competition limits the ability to assess if the price represents the best value achievable.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicated as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. This means that USCIS did not solicit bids from multiple vendors. The specific justification for this sole-source award is not provided in the data, but it typically implies that only one vendor was deemed capable of meeting the requirement, or that there were urgent circumstances. The lack of competition means that price discovery through market forces was bypassed.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, a sole-source award means there is a higher risk of paying a premium for services due to the absence of competitive pressure to lower prices. It also limits the opportunity for small businesses or other qualified vendors to secure government contracts.

Public Impact

USCIS employees and leadership benefit from efficient administrative and program support, enabling focus on core immigration services. The contract ensures the continuity of essential human capital and training functions within USCIS. The geographic impact is primarily internal to USCIS operations, likely supporting personnel across various locations. Workforce implications include the direct employment of staff by Alutiq Career Ventures LLC to fulfill the contract requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to higher costs than a competitively bid contract.
Sole-source awards can limit opportunities for other qualified vendors, including small businesses.
Transparency regarding the justification for the sole-source award is not readily available.

Positive Signals

The fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contract supports critical human capital and training functions within USCIS.
The contractor, Alutiq Career Ventures LLC, is established to provide these services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, specifically focusing on administrative and support services. The market for such services is broad, encompassing numerous government agencies and private sector organizations requiring operational assistance. Comparable spending benchmarks for administrative support contracts can vary widely based on the specific services, duration, and agency. However, the $4.2 million value over four years for a division within a large agency like DHS suggests a standard, albeit non-competitively procured, engagement.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). As a sole-source award, it inherently bypasses the typical competitive processes where small business set-asides are often implemented. This means that opportunities for small businesses to compete for or subcontract on this specific contract were likely limited or non-existent, depending on the specific terms of the sole-source justification.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) contracting officers and program managers within the Department of Homeland Security. Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award, with the justification for not competing the contract being a key area for potential scrutiny.

Related Government Programs

Department of Homeland Security Administrative Support Contracts
USCIS Human Capital Management Services
Federal Office Administrative Services
Government Program Support Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award raises concerns about competition and potential cost inefficiencies.
Lack of transparency regarding the justification for the sole-source award.
No indication of small business participation or subcontracting opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $4.2 million to ALUTIIQ CAREER VENTURES LLC. USCIS HUMAN CAPITAL AND TRAINING (HCT) ADMINISTRATIVE & PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ALUTIIQ CAREER VENTURES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-03-01. End: 2027-02-28.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The provided data indicates the contract was awarded as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' which is a designation for sole-source procurements. The specific justification for this sole-source award is not detailed in the provided data. Typically, such justifications are based on factors like the existence of only one responsible source, urgent and compelling needs, or specific government requirements that only one contractor can meet. Without the official justification document (e.g., a Justification and Approval - J&A), it is impossible to ascertain the precise reasons USCIS chose not to compete this requirement. This lack of transparency is a common concern with sole-source awards.

How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar administrative support contracts within DHS or other federal agencies?

The contract's total value is $4.2 million over four years, averaging $1.05 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar administrative support contracts requires access to a broader dataset of federal procurements. However, for a division within a large agency like USCIS, this annual cost is moderate. Contracts for similar services can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars annually, depending on the scope, complexity, number of personnel, and geographic distribution of services. The lack of competition here prevents a direct value-for-money comparison against potentially lower bids from other firms.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. However, for administrative and program support services, typical KPIs would likely include metrics related to response times for requests, accuracy of data entry, timeliness of report generation, employee satisfaction with support services, and adherence to established procedures. These would be detailed within the contract's statement of work (SOW) and performance work statement (PWS), which are not included in the provided summary data. USCIS contracting officers would monitor these to ensure contractor performance meets expectations.

What is Alutiq Career Ventures LLC's track record with federal contracts, particularly with DHS or USCIS?

The provided data identifies Alutiq Career Ventures LLC as the contractor but does not offer details on their past performance or track record with federal contracts. To assess their track record, one would typically review contract databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) for previous awards, performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any history of contract disputes or awards. Without this information, it's difficult to gauge their experience and reliability specifically for USCIS or similar DHS components. Their ability to secure this sole-source award might suggest prior positive engagement or unique qualifications.

What is the potential impact of this contract on USCIS's ability to manage its human capital and training programs effectively?

This contract is intended to directly support USCIS's Human Capital and Training (HCT) division by providing administrative and program support services. Effective administrative support is crucial for the smooth functioning of any division, particularly one focused on human capital. This includes tasks such as managing training records, processing personnel actions, coordinating program logistics, and providing general office support. By outsourcing these functions to Alutiq Career Ventures LLC, USCIS aims to ensure these critical operational tasks are handled efficiently, allowing HCT staff to concentrate on strategic initiatives related to workforce development, recruitment, retention, and training program design and delivery.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Office Administrative Services › Office Administrative Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3909 ARCTIC BLVD, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99503

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,802,084

Exercised Options: $4,212,517

Current Obligation: $4,212,517

Actual Outlays: $2,435,156

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline